ThreehoursandahalfofstraininguphillsandjoggingdownbroughtthemtoSt。Launce\'s，themarkettownandrailwaystationnearesttoEndelstow，andtheplacefromwhichStephenSmithhadjourneyedoverthedownsonthe，tohim，memorablewintereveningatthebeginningofthesameyear。Thecarrier\'svanwassotimedastomeetastartingup-train，whichStephenentered。Twoorthreehours\'railwaytravelthroughverticalcuttingsinmetamorphicrock，throughoakcopsesrichandgreen，stretchingoverslopesanddowndelightfulvalleys，glens，andravines，sparklingwithwaterlikemany-rilledIda，andheplungedamidthehundredandfiftythousandpeoplecomposingthetownofPlymouth。
Therebeingsometimeuponhishandshelefthisluggageatthecloak-room，andwentonfootalongBedfordStreettothenearestchurch。HereStephenwanderedamongthemultifarioustombstonesandlookedinatthechancelwindow，dreamingofsomethingthatwaslikelytohappenbythealtarthereinthecourseofthecomingmonth。HeturnedawayandascendedtheHoe，viewedthemagnificentstretchofseaandmassivepromontoriesofland，butwithoutparticularlydiscerningonefeatureofthevariedperspective。Hestillsawthatinnerprospect——theeventhehopedforinyonderchurch。ThewideSound，theBreakwater，thelight-
houseonfar-offEddystone，thedarksteamvessels，brigs，barques，andschooners，eitherfloatingstilly，orglidingwithtiniestmotion，wereasthedream，then；thedreamed-ofeventwasasthereality。
SoonStephenwentdownfromtheHoe，andreturnedtotherailwaystation。Hetookhisticket，andenteredtheLondontrain。
ThatdaywasanirksometimeatEndelstowvicarage。NeitherfathernordaughteralludedtothedepartureofStephen。Mr。